Device for simultaneously filling and weighing bags



March 2, 1948.

DEVICE FOR SIMULTANEOUSLY FILLING AND WEIGHING BAGS Filed April 7, 1945 5 Sheets-Sheet l I e7 /04 I e C s as 68 x Y. 73 70 79 l' 8G "lawn/(mm 5 7\`\\\\\\\ ik 27 g /5 24 2c D o 36 o,

O L9 f o 37 O O if; o y O O /2 r/ gli@ I. E l- INI/ENTOR.

March 2, 1948. E. w. VREDENBURG DEVICE FOR SIMULTANEOUSLY FILLING AND WEIGHING BAGS Filed April 7, 1945 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIIE Z DEVICE FOR SIMULTANEOUSLY FILLING AND WEIGHING BAGS Filed April 7, 1945 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 IN VEN TOR. Edf/b W Weoenbary FlE E Jur nl' March 2, 1948. E. v v. vREDr-:NBURG 2,436,983

DEVICE FOR SIMULTANEOUSLY FILLING AND WEIGHIG BAGSY Filed April '7, 1945 5 Sheets-Shea?I 4 3':- l E] 4 INVENTOR.

March 2, 1948. E. w. VREDENBURG 2,436,983

DEVICE FOR SIMULTANEOUSLY FILLING AND WEIGHING BAGS v Filed April Y, 1945 5 Sheets-Shee'fI 5 /za /za /zs FIIE1 5 /jf /32 /zs j j /aa /36 /39 /52 INVEN TOR.

Edf/'c W Vrede/:bury

Patented Mar. 2, 1948 UNITED STATES PATENT oEFIcE DEVICE FOR SMULTANEOUSLY FILLING AND WEIGHING BAGS Edric W. Vredenburg, Berkeley, Calif.

Application April 7, 1945, Serial No. 587,184

2 Claims. (Cl. 249-83) This invention relates to improvements in bag filling and weighing devices.

The present invention relates to a machine for weighing out and simultaneously depositing in a suitable container such as a' bag, a powdered, a granular, or a similar free-flowing material such as sugar, salt, sulphur, insecticide dusts, fertilizers and the like. Although the invention will be described as it is successfully applied to bag lling, it can be utilized with other containers. However, the filling of bags presents certain peculiar problemsiand the present machine has certain unique advantages as applied to bag filling.

It is in general the broad object of the present invention to provide a simple and improved machine for feeding from a large supply of a powdered or granular material into a positioned container and, simultaneously with the filling of the container, accurately weighing out the batch, the feed being discontinued upon the batch weight being attained.

. A further object of the present invention is to provide a novel feed mechanism for delivering powdered. and granular materials to a container.

The invention includes other objects and features of advantage, some of which, together with the foregoing, will appear hereinafter wherein the present'preferred form of machine of this invention is disclosed.

f trating the mechanism utilized to control the material feed and to coordinate the feed with the weight of material present in the container. Figure 8 is a diagrammatic representation of the circuit employed. Y

Referring to the drawing, the machine includes a suitable frame I2 made up of angle iron and other suitable structural elements to provide the necessary support. In the upper portion of the frame, pivot blocks I 4 are mounted and in these are engaged knife edges I6 carried upon opposite sides of a weighing frame generally indicated at I1. At one end of the weighing frame, a weight I8 is suspended to tare a container and provide a weight load coordinated with the weight of ma- 2 terial to be placed in the bag. 0n the other end of the frame, a bag filling structure, generally indicated by numeral I9, is mounted upon knife edges 2 I.

The bag filling structure I9 includes a plate 22 having a material receiving duct 23y thereon delivering material into a screw conveyor casing 24 positioned at the bottom of the duct. A screw night 26 is positioned in the duct to deliver material to the discharge outlet or nozzle 21, the screw conveyor flight including a shaft 28 carrying a pulley 29. A belt 3l is trained about pulley 29 and about a pulley 32 on a shaft 33 of electric motor 3l. The electric motor is mounted in a suitable bracket 38 in a bag support frame 31 which is attached to and depends from plate 22. The frame 31 is adjustable in position so that bags or containers of various heights can be supported upon a bag chair generally indicated at 38 and extending forwardly from the frame cooperatively with respect to and beneath the nozzle 21 to support the bag bottom. Bag filling structure I9, as has been related, is supported upon one end of the weighing frame I1, the frame 31 depending therefrom.

The lower end of the frame 31 is guided by parallel links 39 attached to frame I'2.

' When it is desired to use a typical, so-called valved bag having a sewn end with a top or a side opening adapted to admit the bag nozzle 21, a bag clamping member 4I is mounted upon a plate 42 attached to the front of duct 23. This member is adapted to be raised and lowered between a bag releasing position and a bag retaining'position by handle 43 and link 44. The handle ll, the link M and the member 4I are so Pivoted with respect to each other as to provide a tonie mechanism, the toggle being set in bag retaining position when the handle is in the position shown in Figure 1 and being released when the handle is moved counterclockwise in Figure 1, as willvbe apparent from further consideration of this view.

To deliver material to the duct 23, an inlet duct 5I is provided in the top of the frame to discharge into a feed screw conveyor casing 52. A screw conveyor flight 53 is positioned upon a shaft 5l and extends through nearly to the end trolling the rate of delivery and for nnally cutting oi! delivery entirely in accordance with, the quantity of material present in the container. 'I'his meansinclude a power drive for shaft 54 which drive is controlled in accordance with the quantity of material which has been delivered tothe container. For example. when an empty bag is positioned, the operator initiates the filling operation of the bag. the filling initially occurring at a maximum rate. As the bag fills, the rate of feed is reduced to a dribble feed rate until the bag attains its desired weight when the feed is discontinued.

To drive the shaft 54, a motor 6| is provided upon the frame, a pulley 62 on the motor having a. belt 63 trained about a pulley 64 upon a suitable speed reduction unit indicated at 66. A shaft 61 projects from each side of this unit and carries a pair of spaced ratchet Wheels' 8| and 82 secured to the shaft and having a sleeve extension 10 extending along the shaft. Mounted on one extension 'l0 is a wheel 16 and, on the other, a

' wheel 17; each wheel has a sleeve 'l5 rotatable on a sleeve extension 'Ill and carrying either chain sprockets 68 or 69. Chains H and 12 are trained about these sprockets and about sprockets 13 and 14 on shaft 54, sprocket 68 being of smaller'diameter than sprocket 69 and sprocket 13 being of larger diameter than sprocket 74, so that the shaft 54 is obviously driven at different speeds. When the drive is from sprocket 68 through chain 1| and sprocket 13, the shaft 54 will be rotated more rapidly than when the drive is from sprocket 69 through chain l2 and sprocket 14.

To control the rate of drive of shaft 54, each wheel 'i6 and 'l1 has in cooperation with it, pawls respectively indicated at 18 and '|9 and normally held in engagement with the teeth on the cooperating ratchet wheels 8| and 82 by springs- 83.

The teeth on wheel 82 are in the form of notches engaged positively by an associated pawl 19 when the drive is from sprocket 69; the teeth on wheel 8| can be engaged by its associated pawl 18 only in one direction when the drive is from sprocket 68. the pawl 73 slipping over the teeth if the pawl 'I8 moves faster in the same direction, as happens when the drive is from sprocket 69. Each pawl includes a projecting arm 34 carrying a rotatable wheel 86 thereon. A collar 88, mounted on each end of shaft 6l, carries a rotatable cone 89 adapted to engage the cooperating wheel 86 and lift the pawl out of engagement with the teeth on the cooperating ratchet wheel.

To move the cones 89 selectively, brackets 92 and 93 are mounted upon the frame and support levers 94 and 96 pivotally, springs 9| and 98 respectively biasing levers 94 and 96 so as to keep the cones from engaging the wheels. In the position shown in Figure 1, both ratchets are engaged but since gears 69--14 drive shaft 54 at a greater speed than gears 13-68, pawl 'I8 slips over the teeth on ratchet wheel 8|. When lever 96v is moved to release pawl 19, the drive is through gears 68-73, pawl 'I8 immediately engaging the Wheel 8| for positive driving connection. When pawl 18 is released, pawl 19 being disengaged, the drive ceases instantly although motor 6| continues to rotate.

To move levers 94 and 96, solenoids |0| and |02 are mounted upon the frame and links |63 and |04 extend from them to engage the ends of levers 94 and 96. As will be presently described, the solenoids are selectively energized to bring one and then the other of the cones into engagement with one of the wheels 86 and so raise the corresponding pawl from engagement with its associated ratchet wheel. 'In this way, shaft 81 being rotated, the drive of shaft 66 can be selectively controlled and, due to the different size of the sprockets employed on the respective shafts, the rate of drive of shaft 54 varied. The control of solenoids lill and |02 will now be described.

Mounted upon the side of the frame I2 is an extensin |10 and pivoted intermediate its ends upon the extension ||0is a lever having a curved end H2. The disposition of the weight of lever about its pivot point on the extension H0 is .such that lever ||l normally tends to rock in a clockwise direction in Figures l and 5-7. The curved end of lever M2 includes notches H4 and |I5 therein. Lever is rocked counterclockwise by an extension ||6 on weighing frame engaging lever as the weighing frame moves counterclockwise in Figure 1 as a bag or other container is lled.

Mounted cooperatively on a shaft |2| carried on an upper portion of the frame is a lever |22 having a tooth |23 thereon adapted to engage successively notch vH6 and then notch ||4 and iinally the curved end of lever Also mountled upon shaft |2| is a lever |26 carrying an ad- Justable weight |27 at one end and having its other end slotted as at |28 to cooperate with a stop member |29 on frame |2 and so limit the degree of rotation of'shaft |2|. A handle |92 is also secured upon shaft |2|, while arms |33 and |34 are also mounted upon the shaft for reasons which will presently appear.

To initiate the filling operation, an operator places a bag in position on nozzle 2| and then clamps the bag in place. The handle |32 is then rocked counterclockwise in Figure 5 until tooth |23 engages notch H5. In this position, arms |33 and |36 will also be rocked counterclockwise to engage and open switch control elements |33 and |37 respectively provided in suitable switch structures such as mieroswitches |36 and |39. A microswitch is a well-recognized and definite type of switch; a suitable form is described in Patent Number 1,960,020. 'With both switches open, solenoids |0| and |62 are not energized and both cones 89 are free of wheels 86. In this position (Figure 1) the drive for shaft 54| is at the high speed through sprockets 99 and 'il'.l, pawl i3 slipping over the teeth on ratchet wheel 3|.

As weight is applied to the weighing frame and the latter rocks counterclockwise, extension H6 will rock lever ||I counterclockwise and tooth |23/will slip oi notch ||3 to engage upon notch Hd (Figure 6). This action permits contact |36 to close microswitch |38, due to the clockwise rotation of arms |33 and |34. However, arm |39 is still in position to maintain element |37 in switch |39 in open position. Initially, shaft 5d will be driven at high speed, the pawl 718 slipping over the teeth on wheel 3| on the low speed side because of the positive high speed drive. However, upon the energizing of solenoid |9 the drive of conveyor shaft 54 will instantaneously decrease and the rate of speed will correspondingly decrease. When the container attains its full Weight, tooth |23 is released from notch I I9 (Figure 7) and lever |22 moves to its nal position determined by notch |28 and stop |29 as appears in Figure 7. In this position switch |39 is closed, pawl 'i8 is released from wheel 3| and shaft 34 is stopped.

Referring to Figure 8, power is supplied from lines |5| and |52 tomotor 6| under the control of manual switch |53 and, under the control of bracket |6| is mounted on the side of frame |2.

A cam-like weight |62 is pivoted at |63 on this bracket; when the weighing frame is in bag loading position, weight |62 bears against extension ||6A and loads the frame falsely until the frame has rocked sufficiently to permit weight |62 to engage stop |64. At this point, switch |30 is closed and solenoid energized to initiate the low rate or dribble feed.

When the filling operation has been concluded, the operator releases lever 43 and removes the bag, replacing the filled bag with an empty one. Lever |32 is then rocked to initiate rotation of shaft 54 and feed material to the duct 23. It is essential that conveyor 26 move the material from the duct at a rate in excess of that at which the material is delivered by conveyor 53 to permit the air from the valved bag to issue through the duct as the solid material is forcefully fed into the bag. By having conveyor flight 53 terminate short of the end of the casing 52, material is not held in the casing to fall into the duct 23 intermittently-the material spilling out in a continuous stream instead of at a varying rate which would destroy the accuracy of the batch weight.

I claim:

1. A bag filling device comprising a stationary feed hopper; a movable weighing frame; bag support and filling means on said frame for discharging material received from said feed hopper into a bag on said frame: means for moving material positively from said hopper for discharge info a positioned bag comprising a first shaft extending through said hopper and having a screw conveyor ilight thereon to move material therethrough for discharge from said hopper, a second shaft, a ilrst drive means for driving said first shaft from the second shaft at a ilrst speed, a second drive means for driving said first shaft from said second shaft at a second speed less than said first speed, a first clutch associated with said ilrst drive means and normally engaged to drive said first shaft at said ilrst speed, a nrst solenoid controlling operation of said first clutch, a second clutch associated with said second drive means and including an over-running pawl rendering said second clutch ineffective while said ilrst drive is effective to drive said flrst shaft at said first speed and cause over-running of said over-running pawl, and a switch operated by movement of said weighing frame for controlling operation of said rst solenoid and rendering said ilrst solenoid effective to disengage said 'rst clutch whereby said over-running pawl ceases to over-run and said over-running pawl is rendered effective to drive said first shaft at said second speed.

2. A bag filling device comprising a weighing frame movable between an unloaded position and a container loaded position, a first and a second switch each actuatable upon movement of said frame from said unloaded to said loaded position, a stationary hopper, a screw conveyor night in said hopper on a ilrst shaft for discharging material from said hopper, a second shaft, a rst drive means for driving the ilrst shaft from the second shaft at a first speed, a second drive means for driving the first shaft from the second shaft at a second speed less than said first speed, a. first clutch associated with said first drive means and normally engaged to drive said first shaft at said first speed, a second clutch associated with said second drive means and including an over-running pawl rendering said second clutch ineffective while said first drive means is effective to drive said first shaft at said rst speed and cause over-running of said over-running pawl, a ilrst solenoid in a rst circuit with said first switch for controlling operation of said first clutch, and a second solenoid in a second circuit with said second switch fr controlling operation of said second clutch.

EDRIC W. VREDENBURG.

nnrnnnncns crrnn The following references are of record in the ille of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 570,298 Richards Oct. 27, 1896 572,089 Richards Nov. 24, 1896 579.445 Richards Mar. 23, 1897 585,976 Richards July 6, 1897 615,197 Richards Nov. 29, 1898 931,800 Ruether et al'. Aug. 24, 1908 2,212,419 Harmon Aug. 20, 1940 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Coimtry Date 84:3,683k France Apr. 3. 1939 

